Sculptures from part of LB artist Craig Cree Stone’s new work in The Promenade. Photo courtesy of Walter Gajewski.
8:00am | The Long Beach Redevelopment Agency, in partnership with the Arts Council for Long Beach, announces the dedication of a new permanent public art project for The Promenade tomorrow, November 22, at 11:00am.
After a competitive, local call-to-artists, which included a peer-panel review process with participation from both community members as well as art and design professionals, Image Emergence: Promenade of the Clouds by Craig Cree Stone was one of the pieces chosen for The Promenade in Downtown Long Beach. The integrated public artwork located on the south block of The Promenade, where it is composed of five large-scale, stainless steel sculptures which cast shadow images based upon the themes of flight and the future. The cast shadows appear and disappear depending upon the time of day and weather conditions. In addition, 12 illusionistic shadows, which complement the sculptures, are permanently stained into the concrete. At night, the free-standing sculptural elements are illuminated to create images that are evocative of constellations.
In recent years, the RDA has been attempting to facilitate the revitalization of The Promenade, the City’s downtown pedestrian walkway that stretches from Ocean Boulevard to 3rd Street. This project was planned and integrated as part of The Promenade development which also includes two additional public artworks – Aerial Plaza by Carl Cheng, which was unveiled in 2010, and the historic 1938 WPA Mosaic, Long Beach Recreation, by Stanton MacDonald-Wright and Albert King.
The purpose of such public art projects is rather simple: beyond its enriching personal benefits, public art increases a community’s assets and expresses a community’s positive sense of identity and values. It helps green space thrive as well as enhancing roadsides, pedestrian corridors, and commercial gateways. In short, it inspires residents’ sense of civic pride and ownership in their community.